Thank Goodness It's Fiber: That's the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath's beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver's Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that's only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother's affairs

Dyeing Wishes: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Book 2

Always up for trying something new, Kath and her friends from the fiber and needlework group TGIF - Thank Goodness It's Fiber - are visiting Cloud Hollow Farm for the day to learn the fine art of dyeing. With spring in the air, the friends head out to greet the sheep. But the sheep are more interested in something else - two bodies spread under a tall tree. And one of those bodies is someone they know. Kath's friends nudge her to investigate.

Spinning in Her Grave: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Book 3

It's time for Blue Plum's annual historical festival, and everyone-including Kath and her spunky fiber and needlework group, TGIF-is getting in on the action. Expert spinners are being gathered, and a businessman has approached Kath about using the second-floor windows of her store for part of a reenactment. But the reenactment ends in real-life bloodshed when local baker Reva Louise Snapp is shot-with a bullet from a modern-day gun.

Plagued by Quilt: Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, Book 4

Hamming it up with equal parts history and histrionics, Phillip leads an archaeological dig of the farm's original dump site - until one student stops the show by uncovering some human bones. When a full skeleton is later excavated, Kath can't help but wonder if it's somehow connected to Geneva, the ghost who haunts her shop, and whom she met at this very site. After Phillip is found dead, it's up to Kath to thread the clues together before someone else becomes history.

A Crafty Killing: Victoria Square Mystery, Book 1

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner Ezra Hilton is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra had been faltering - but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Katie can find the answer.

The Walled Flower: Victoria Square Mystery, Book 2

If Katie Bonner's late husband hadn't invested all their savings in the craft fair Artisans Alley - which Katie is now responsible for keeping in the black - the Webster mansion could have been hers to remodel. For years she dreamed of renovating the old place on Victoria Square into a bed and breakfast. Now that dream belongs to another young couple.

Darned if You Do: A Needlecraft Mystery

After a tree falls on Tom Riordan's house, landing him in the hospital, the police discover a mountain of junk piled high in his home. Locals in Excelsior, Minnesota - including Betsy and her Crewel World Monday Bunch - offer to help with the cleanup while Tom recuperates. But when Tom is found murdered in his hospital bed, the sole heir to his property - his cousin, Valentina - becomes the number-one suspect.

Spellcasting in Silk: Witchcraft Mysteries, Book 7

Lily would like nothing better than to relax, enjoy her friends, and take care of business at her store, which is booming thanks to San Francisco's upcoming Summer of Love Festival. But as the unofficial witchy consultant to the SFPD, she is pulled into yet another case.

LeslieAnn says:"Another great installment in the Witchcraft Mysteries series"

An Uninvited Ghost

Alison and her resident gumshoe ghost are on their next case when the deceased Scott MacFarlane floats in worried that he accidentally killed a prominent local woman. Turns out she's still alive...that is, of course, until she's murdered - in Alison's house. Now, between the demands of her guests and the arrival of a reality television crew, Alison must find the killer before she sees reality from the other side.

Magic and Macaroons: Magical Bakery Mystery Series, Book 5

For magical baker Katie Lightfoot, the only way to beat the Savannah summer heat is to whip up some cool treats for the Honeybee Bakery's patrons. But when a meeting of the spellbook club is interrupted by a stranger collapsing on the floor of her shop, mumbling something about a voodoo talisman, Katie drops everything to begin investigating.

The Cat, the Professor and the Poison: A Cats in Trouble Mystery

Between her kitty quilt-making business and her three beloved cats, Jill has her hands full. That doesn't stop her from wanting to solve the mystery of the milk cow that's gone missing from her friend's farm. But imagine her surprise when a stolen cow leads to the discovery of 50 stray cats and one dead body - a victim of cold-blooded murder....

Dead Bolt: Haunted Home Renovation Series, Book 2

Turner Construction's latest restoration project is a historic Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco. This time, general contractor Mel Turner has to work around the owners, who insist on sticking around-along with some ghosts that insist in their own way that the work stops. The ghosts aren't the only ones standing in the way of the renovations. A crotchety neighbor, Emile Blunt, secretly wants this house and could be behind some of the disturbances. But when Emile is found dead, it's Mel who appears guilty.

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat: A Magical Cats Mystery

When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines. When murder interrupts Mayville's Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect.

Caught Dead Handed: Witch City Mystery, Book 1

Most folks associate the city of Salem, Massachusetts, with witches, but for Lee Barrett it's home. This October she's returned to her hometown - where her beloved Aunt Ibby still lives - to interview for a job as a reporter at WICH-TV. But the only opening is for a call-in psychic to host the late-night horror movies. It seems the previous host, Ariel Constellation, never saw her own murder coming.

Death by Cashmere: Seaside Knitters, Book 1

Not long after Isabel "Izzy" Chambers opens up a knitting shop in the sleepy fishing town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, a diverse group of women begins congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters. Izzy raises some eyebrows when she rents the apartment above her shop to Angie Archer, whose reputation for loose behavior and a quick temper has made her unpopular with many locals. But could any of them have wanted her dead? Angie's body is discovered drowned in the harbor, her long red hair tangled like seaweed in a lobster trap.

One Hot Murder: Victoria Square Mystery, Book 3

Katie Bonner, the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square, is no stranger to ambivalence. Things have been going hot and heavy with pizza maker Andy Rust - so much so that Katie has moved in over his pizza parlor. But now that summer's ushered in a heat wave, an apartment above pizza ovens without an air conditioner is making Katie hot and bothered.

The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse: A Cats in Trouble Mystery, Book 1

Recently widowed Jillian Hart is rebuilding a life for herself and her three beloved cats - Chablis, Syrah, and Merlot - as a quilter in a small South Carolina town. The quilts she makes are for cats as smart, special, and sweet as her own, and business is thriving. But when she returns from an overnight quilting show, she discovers Chablis sneezing - and since Chablis is allergic to humans, that can only mean one thing: Someone has broken into her house. When she realizes her Abyssinian, Syrah, is missing, Jillian suspects catnapping. Spurred by Chablis and Merlot’s mournful meowing, she investigates - and discovers more missing cats and a murder.

Ripped from the Pages: A Bibliophile Mystery

Excited to explore the secrets of wine country, Brooklyn attends an excavation of the caves hidden deep under her parents' commune - and the findings are explosive. A room is unearthed, and it contains a treasure trove of artwork, rare books, a chest of jewelry...and a perfectly mummified body. A closer examination of the murdered man's possessions reveals a valuable first edition of Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth.

By Book or by Crook: Lighthouse Library Mystery Series # 1

For 10 years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family's social whorl or her sort-of engagement to the staid son of her father's law partner. But when her 10-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite.

Patterns in the Sand: A Seaside Knitters Mystery

When young fiber artist Willow Adams visits Izzy Chambers' knitting studio, she's immediately embraced by the Seaside knitters, and they see the monthly arts event at Canary Cove as a perfect place to showcase Willow's work. But the idyllic summer in Sea Harbor turns somber when the body of Nick Peabody - owner of a popular gallery - is found in a garden. Soon Nick's secrets begin to surface, and the residents of Sea Harbor realize they didn't know him at all.

The Wedding Shawl: Seaside Knitters, Book 5

Izzy Chambers is head over heels. She’s about to marry the love of her life, but much remains to be done before their big day. So the Seaside Knitters have pitched in to help and are even knitting Izzy a beautiful lace wedding shawl. Meanwhile, Izzy’s aunt, Nell, has hired a gardener to spruce up the backyard where the wedding will be held. The gardener, Claire, is just returning to Cape Anne after a long absence, hoping to put a dark secret to rest and find peace for herself.

Tails, You Lose: Witch City Mystery, Book 2

After losing her job as a TV psychic, Lee Barrett volunteers at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts. When the school handyman turns up dead, Lee's clairvoyance begins bubbling. The Tabby is housed in long-vacant Trumbull's Department Store. As Lee and her students work on a documentary charting the store's history, they unravel a century of family secrets, deathbed whispers, and a mysterious labyrinth of tunnels hidden right below the streets of Salem. Even the witches in town are spooked.

Stiff Penalty

Deputy coroner Mattie Winston knows a thing or two about dead bodies. That's why she's on the case of Derrick Ames, a high school math teacher stabbed to death with a barbecue fork straight to the heart. Sure, she's turned up some motives and a few suspects, but nothing adds up. Especially when the evidence points to Ames's teenage son. Newly pregnant Mattie can't believe it, even as her own long-estranged father may be following her.

Mission to Murder: A Tourist Trap Mystery, Book 2

Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More, has discovered that the old stone wall on her property might be a centuries-old mission worthy of being declared a landmark. But Craig Morgan, the obnoxious owner of South Cove's most popular tourist spot, The Castle, makes it his business to contest her claim. When Morgan is found murdered at The Castle shortly after a heated argument with Jill, even her detective boyfriend has to ask her for an alibi. Jill decides that she must find the real murderer to clear her name.

Cutwork: A Needlecraft Mystery, Book 7

Almost everyone in Excelsior, Minnesota - craftsy and non-craftsy alike - has turned out for the art fair. So when an artisan is murdered there, the list of suspects is practically endless. Betsy Devonshire wants to help out in the police investigation. Her best friend, Officer Jill Cross, confides that they have a lead: A bloody footprint in the woodcarvers' booth matches that of a local youth. But when Betsy can't keep the news to herself, Jill gives Betsy the cold shoulder. Everyone's on pins and needles - and when the family of the kid in question asks Betsy to prove his innocence, she must first regain Jill's trust.

Publisher's Summary

Thank Goodness It's Fiber: That's the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath's beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver's Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that's only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother's affairs.

There's been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy's name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF-and a stubborn spirit from beyond-she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer....

This is a good start to a good series. The characters are well written and likeable. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep you from guessing the ending. I gave the story three stars because the author spent too much time in some areas of the book going on and on.

The two cousins, Mercy and Shirley, were so annoying yet they added lots of humor to the story. The narrator did a good job giving voices to all of the characters. This was worth the credit and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I thought this might be a fun book to listen to while knitting. After two chapters, though, I gave up and picked out something else. This gem appeared toward the end of the first chapter: "I sat for another moment, memorizing his face in my side mirror, promising myself that never would I or any of my children, should I have any, ever consider procreating with the likes of, or a close relative to, Cole Dunbar." Only stubbornness made me continue for another chapter. It didn't get better.

As a first book in a series this one sets up a potentially very good cozy series. MacRae described a town and a number of characters it should be fun to spend time with. Also, she includes a few that we don't want to spend much time with--neither does the main character, Cath--but these add interest, humor, and another reason to come back for a second book with hopes that the twins will get their comeupance. But, like Charlie Brown and the football, I suspect it will be an unlikely but perpetual hope.

I liked the cozily paranormal aspect and wished more had been explored in this first novel. We were given some very tantalizing hints about Cath's grandmother, Ivy, and what she could do, but not enough to know for any certainty what it was. And it may run in the family... but, even with this to intrigue us, we mostly got a long scene introducing the ghost. I have to admit, I really liked the ghost, and I hope to see more of her, even if it's only in a semi-transparent form. One of my favorite tidbits in this story was that Cath thought to entertain the ghost with an audiobook--apparently a heroine with discerning tastes!

Emily Durante did a very good job with the various voices and characterizations, along with good prose reading.

I look forward to the next in the series and hope that the writer and narrator continue their stellar paring.

Where does Last Wool and Testament rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I list my cozy mysteries more by two categories. The first category is: I will read again, the second category is: I won't read again. This book definitely falls into the first category!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kath is my favorite character. She is believable - not perfect, quite clever, yet not a know-it-all. While this story is about the death of Kath's grandmother, this is not a tear jerker. The plot is really filled with many people, I had to stop and rewind a couple of times to catch up with something I missed in the plot, but that has more to do with my attention span than the story. I found this to be fast-paced and fun to listen to. There were a number of times I laughed out loud!

What about Emily Durante’s performance did you like?

she did an excellent job reading this story. I forgot I was listening and became engrossed in the story very quickly. This is a compliment to both the writer and the reader.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i did laugh out loud a few times. Probably more than I usually do and that is a good thing!

Any additional comments?

if you like cozy mysteries with a touch of paranormal in the plot, I recommend this book.

First in the Haunted Yarn Shop mysteries, this book introduces us to Blue Plum, Tennessee and The Weaver's Cat yarn shop, and the many and varied characters in the town. Kath has just come back to town after the death of her beloved grandmother, Ivy McClellen, to discover herself locked out of her grandmother's house. Since she inherited all of Ivy's things, this comes as a shocking surprise, especially when she's told that her grandmother had sold her home and was just renting. Not only that, but the owners expect the house emptied out within the week for the new owners. When a dead body is found, real trouble ensues!

Kath calls upon the knitting and fiber group from Ivy's shop, TGIFs--Thank Goodness It's Fiber--to help her find out what has happened. She also gets a little "help" from an unlikely source, an emotionally charged ghost from the past.

This is a fun cozy with a great deal of potential. Though I really enjoyed the story, it felt a little bit unfinished--like more of an introduction for future books. The ghost was a bit annoying also as she was more of a whiner than a fun addition to the story. Though she moves from an empty house into the yarn shop eventually, and I think her presence there may be intriguing in the future. So, this book interested me enough to give the next book a try.

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